Southern California -- this just in

L.A. Now Live: Are paparazzi out of control?

January 3, 2013 | 8:34
am

Times reporter Andrew Blankstein will join L.A. Now Live at 9 a.m. Thursday to discuss the controversy surrounding the death of a paparazzo who died after taking a picture of pop star Justin Bieber's white Ferrari.

Christopher James Guerra was fatally struck Tuesday by an SUV while crossing Sepulveda Boulevard near Getty Center
Drive.

The incident took place shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday when a
California Highway Patrol officer pulled the sports car over on the 405
Freeway. The photographer arrived near the scene on Sepulveda,
left his car and crossed the street to take photos.

Sources familiar
with the investigation said the CHP told him to leave the area. As he
was returning to his vehicle, he was hit by the SUV.

His death prompted Bieber to call for tougher laws to "protect the lives and safety of
celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the
photographers themselves."

Some experts said there are already adequate laws on the books. Others, including veteran paparazzo Frank Griffin, have said trying to limit paparazzi is a violation of 1st Amendment rights.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=5597a0c8e9&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; _mce_href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=5597a0c8e9&amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;L.A. Now Live with The Times Metro staff&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;